Education

signed · Oklahoma · House May 30, 2025

HB 1727: Higher education; Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program; eligibility for children of certain teachers; effective date; emergency.

HB 1727 amends Oklahoma's Higher Learning Access Program (OK HAP) to add a new eligibility category for children of certified classroom teachers. Specifically, it allows students whose parents are certified teachers to qualify for tuition assistance without needing to meet standard financial need requirements (normally required under Section 2603). The bill does not change other eligibility criteria like residency, academic performance, or admission standards. This change directly affects students pursuing higher education in Oklahoma whose parents work as certified teachers in the state. The policy went into effect June 10, 2025, after Governor approval.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves financial need requirement for children of teachers to access tuition assistance, expanding educational access under OK HAP without altering other criteria.92% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

vetoed · Oklahoma · House May 29, 2025

HB 1521: Schools; subject matter standards; personal financial literacy; AP courses; updating references; permitting alternate diploma for certain students; repealer; effective date; emergency.

HB 1521 changes Oklahoma high school graduation requirements for math credits. It mandates four math units, including Algebra I and either Algebra II or Geometry, plus a third course at or above Algebra I rigor (such as Finance, Computer Science, or dual-credit math). Schools may also use locally developed, applied math courses that connect to real-world contexts. The bill directly affects Oklahoma public high school students and school districts setting graduation standards. It updates existing requirements but does not alter personal financial literacy or AP course policies.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates rigorous math requirements (4 units including Algebra I/II/Geometry) and allows applied courses, strengthening curriculum standards without restricting access or funding.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

Track

signed · Oklahoma · House May 29, 2025

HB 1277: State Board of Education; providing reasons for which a license or certificate may be revoked or suspended; providing for notice; effective date; emergency.

HB 1277 updates Oklahoma's rules for revoking or suspending educator licenses. It automatically revokes licenses for individuals convicted of specific sexual abuse or exploitation crimes (listed in Oklahoma statutes), expands the grounds for revocation to include willful law violations, child abuse/neglect, moral turpitude, or incompetence, and requires 10 days' written notice before action. The bill applies directly to licensed teachers, principals, school nurses, bus drivers, and other public school staff who work directly with students. It also clarifies that emergency suspensions are limited to defined situations under state law and sets rules for handling certification fees.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens educator accountability by automatically revoking licenses for serious offenses, protecting student safety in schools.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

signed · Oklahoma · House May 29, 2025

HB 2259: Schools; transfers; military dependent transfers; requirements; continuous transfers; definitions; effective date; emergency.

HB 2259 removes a requirement that military-dependent students must have Oklahoma as their "home of record" to qualify for continuous school transfers within Oklahoma public schools. The bill directly affects military families with children attending Oklahoma schools, streamlining their ability to transfer between schools without proving Oklahoma is their permanent home state. This change simplifies the process by eliminating the "home of record" language from existing transfer eligibility rules. The law took effect on May 29, 2025, after becoming law without the Governor's signature.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves unnecessary 'home of record' barrier for military-dependent students, streamlining school transfers and improving educational access for K-12 military families.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

signed · Oklahoma · House May 29, 2025

HB 2257: Oklahoma National Guard Educational Assistance Act; providing for review of certain fees; authorizing establishment of certain cap; modifying retention eligibility; emergency.

HB 2257 creates the Oklahoma National Guard Educational Assistance Program, providing tuition and fee coverage for eligible Oklahoma National Guard members attending Oklahoma colleges. It covers up to 120 credit hours for undergraduate degrees (max 18 credits per semester) and 40 credit hours for master's programs, including mandatory fees and academic service fees. To qualify, members must maintain a 2.0 GPA, hold a military occupational specialty after their first semester, and agree to serve 24 additional months in the Guard after completing their education. Failure to meet service requirements triggers repayment calculations based on the total assistance amount. The program becomes effective November 1, 2025, and is funded through a revolving fund managed by the Military Department and State Regents for Higher Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tuition/fee coverage for National Guard members at Oklahoma colleges, directly funding higher education access and expanding educational opportunities for military personnel.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill creates educational assistance for Oklahoma National Guard members (a key veteran support benefit), covering tuition/fees for up to 120 credits, directly advancing veterans' educational opportunities.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Oklahoma · House May 27, 2025

HB 1096: Schools; modifying goals of certain programs; modifying eligibility for certain higher education programs; adding references to Classic Learning Test; effective date; emergency.

HB 1096 modifies Oklahoma school district requirements for teacher professional development. It updates goals to prioritize increasing academic performance scores, closing achievement gaps, and reducing college remediation rates. The bill adds mandatory annual training on dyslexia and dysgraphia for teachers, expands autism awareness training for early childhood educators, and requires data-driven planning for professional development programs. School districts must annually report on these programs to the State Department of Education, including progress toward specific student achievement goals. The bill does not reference the Classic Learning Test in its substantive provisions as described in the provided text.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates dyslexia/dysgraphia teacher training, expands autism awareness, and requires data-driven planning to improve academic performance and close achievement gaps.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

signed · Oklahoma · House May 27, 2025

HB 1412: Teachers; directing stipends, rather than salary increases, be provided to teachers with certain certificates; effective date; emergency.

HB 1412 changes how Oklahoma school districts compensate teachers with advanced, lead, or master certificates. Instead of providing salary increases, districts must pay stipends using lottery funds (as specified in Section 713 of Title 3A) for these certified educators. The law, signed by the governor on May 23, 2025, directly affects teachers holding these higher-level credentials. It modifies Oklahoma Statutes § 6-190 to require stipends from lottery revenue rather than general salary adjustments.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates stipends from lottery funds for certified teachers instead of salary increases, ensuring continued compensation for educators with advanced credentials.85% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

signed · Oklahoma · House May 27, 2025

HB 1075: Teachers; making certain provisions applicable to administrators; requiring certain recommendation to be forwarded to the State Board of Education; providing for expungement; effective date; emergency.

HB 1075 requires school superintendents to provide written dismissal recommendations for teachers and administrators with specific, documented reasons. If a recommendation involves potential criminal charges or certificate revocation issues, it must be forwarded to the Oklahoma State Board of Education. The bill also mandates that if an investigation clears an educator of wrongdoing, the record is expunged from State Board files. All recommendations are kept confidential under Oklahoma law, with strict rules for handling requests by school districts during employment decisions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires documented dismissal reasons for educators and mandates expungement of cleared records, strengthening due process protections for teachers.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Oklahoma · House May 27, 2025

HB 1955: Education; Education Leadership Oklahoma program; clarifying award coverage; increasing maximum amount; repayment; reimbursement; effective date.

HB 1955 supports Oklahoma teachers seeking National Board certification by expanding financial assistance and recognition. It provides up to $1,800 per teacher annually (covering $1,300 in fees plus a $500 scholarship) for application costs and certification expenses, with repayment required if certification isn’t completed within three years. The bill also establishes a $5,000 annual bonus for 10 years for teachers certified before June 30, 2013, or those who applied before that date, while clarifying that bonus eligibility excludes certain salary increments. Additionally, it mandates free mentorship and training support for participating teachers through university partnerships. The law took effect November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides direct financial support ($1,800/teacher annual coverage + $5,000 bonus) for teacher certification, advancing educator development and retention in Oklahoma schools.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Oklahoma · House May 22, 2025

HB 1086: School funding; school district general funds; general fund carryover; State Aid; calculation of per pupil revenue; exceptions; effective date; emergency.

HB 1086 updates Oklahoma's school funding rules by redefining how school districts manage their general funds. It requires districts to place capital project funds (like those for building repairs) into a separate building fund instead of the general fund, and eliminates the practice of carrying over general fund money to future years. The bill restricts general fund use for capital projects to only cases where a building is destroyed by disaster (fire, flood, etc.) and other funding sources (insurance, state aid) are insufficient. This directly affects all Oklahoma public school districts in how they track and spend state and local education funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEnforces fiscal responsibility by requiring capital project funds to be separated from general funds, preventing diversion of resources and promoting proper budget management.90% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts school districts' use of general funds for capital projects (e.g., building repairs), limiting infrastructure funding flexibility and requiring separate dedicated funds.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education